Everything You Need To Know About The New Eco-Focused Menu At Bingham Riverhouse

Looking for a spot of dinner in south west London? The new menu at Bingham Riverhouse is a real treat, says Martha Davies.

Review: Riverhouse Restaurant, Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond

(c) Helen Cathcart

Whether you take a seat in the grand Drawing Room Bar or the gorgeous Riverhouse Restaurant, cross the threshold of Bingham Riverhouse and you’ll feel like you’ve been welcomed into a country estate. There’s always been an air of elegance to this boutique hotel and eatery – perhaps due to the rather formidable Georgian townhouse it occupies, or the wonderful attentiveness of all the staff – and if you’re after some excellent food, it certainly won’t disappoint.

Previously boasting a Michelin star under Masterchef: The Professionals winner Steven Edwards, Bingham Riverhouse has now started a new culinary chapter, with South African-born chef Vanessa Marx at the helm. The new menu offers a ‘neighbourhood restaurant’ concept, which might seem slightly incongruous when you take a look at the restaurant’s English country manor-style interiors (from the huge chandelier in the drawing room to the Penguin paperbacks lining the walls of the dining room). At its heart, however, Vanessa’s vision is all about showcasing homegrown, seasonal food, with a focus on zero-waste cooking and sustainability. Perhaps not quite what you’d expect from this upmarket Richmond bolthole, but it’s all the better for it.

(c) Timeless Pictures

Alongside a superb selection of cocktails from the bar, you can enjoy an array of light bites and small plates before tucking into main courses (and finishing off with dessert, of course). There’s a real emphasis on fresh ingredients, particularly when it comes to the seafood options, which are extensive – think crispy crab cakes, baked scallops with preserved lemon, beer steamed mussels and an ever-changing catch of the day from the famous Brixham Fish Market in Devon. 

Everything, it seems, has a story; Vanessa’s South African roots are apparent in the spring rolls, for instance, which are stuffed with utterly moreish lamb bobotie (a national dish of spiced mincemeat, traditionally with an egg-based topping). If you’re looking for a plant-based dish, however, there are plenty, and each is rather fascinating: the mushrooms are grown using leftover coffee grounds from cafés in Wimbledon, while the cacao torte is a particularly divine low-sugar dessert incorporating reishi mushrooms (for health benefits rather than taste) and boasting a date-based caramel. There might be a lot to choose from, but everything here feels innovative – and, crucially, it’s sure to be delicious. 

(c) Helen Cathcart

THE FINAL WORD

It might be the place to go for a dignified dining experience, but settle in for a meal at Riverhouse Restaurant and the neighbourhood concept will start to feel familiar – if only because you’ll want to order everything on the menu with the excuse of sharing it. Think riverside elegance with a sustainable spin.

BOOK IT

61-63 Petersham Rd, Richmond, TW10 6UT. binghamriverhouse.com